will companies employ you if you tell them you are pregnant?

[kellylouisek]

Hi Girls,

Just found out my company has gone in to administration and will not have any income as of now.
I want to get straight back in to full time employment but I am 13 weeks pregnant and really nervous nobody will take me on because of this.

Has anybody else experienced this or know a little more about it?

xx

Legally, a company can't discriminate against you due to pregnancy. However, unofficially it's easy to find another reason why someone else is more suited to the job as it saves them the cost of recruiting someone else to cover your maternity leave.

You don't have to tell your employer that you're pregnant until you are 25 weeks. Personally I wouldn't mention it at interviews, and would disguise my bump a bit, and wouldn't mention it until you have a job offer in writing or until after you start working there! Although you may feel like you have a bump by now, people who don't know you can be easily fooled until at least 20 weeks

I wouldn't mention it at 13 weeks tbh, if you're not showing.

I was made redundant at 18 weeks and was lucky enough to be employed by another company at 20w, so it does happen, but I have a feeling I'm probably a rarity.

Rockchick speaks wisely. Don't tell them. I suppose that technically it's bad form, but it's a tough world out there and you need to look after yourself and your family.
Speaking as an employer, with the new Equality Act I'd be a bit pissed off, but I'd realise that I haven't got a leg to stand on. So I'd just make the best of it and look at making your return as swift and easy as possible.

I've gone for job interviews at 34 and 26 weeks pregnant. Both times I got the job. good luck!

Depends on the job you would be doing and your likely employer I would think. If it is for the civil service or a large multinational, I'd be inclined to keep quiet at least until they've made me an offer. If it's for a small company I'd be concerned about the atmosphere I would be working in once I told them.
Also, I'm pretty sure you are not going to qualify for statutory and/or most firms enhanced maternity packages. You will be able to apply directly for a state maternity allowance (so basically the firm won't have to pay you the 6 weeks full pay then SMP) so practically speaking, if they employ you, you are not going to cost them anything beyond hiring and training a replacement. If you are up front about it, and tell them what you intend to do re amount mat leave (as they can't ask) then you might find it works more in your favour especially if you are planning a short mat leave. If you are planning 12 months off, then definitely keep quiet. They will certainly have to jump through more hoops to prove that other candidates are better qualified etc etc.
I understand from a friend in the USA that it is quite common to directly ask about maternity benefits at the hiring stage to make it clear that you intend to pursue a family but to force them to document clearly why you did not get the role.

We had 2 people at my work do this; offered the job, started and then told their boss. Whilst I suspect the boss (female) was peed, they both came back to their roles after mat leave and are now considered great workers/people to have around so good hires.

I think this along with other examples of professional working pregnant people in my office have changed the perception for the better.

Just saying, not everyone discriminates but I would keep quiet on case.

GL :)